Camerata San AntonioNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Camerata San AntonioTue, 18 Oct 2016 12:41:15 +0000Camerata San Antoniohttp://tpr.org
Jack MorganChamber group Camerata San Antonio has another mini-tour planned for the weekend. I caught up with cellist Ken Freudigman rehearsing with the three other members of Camerata San Antonio at University Auditorium at Incarnate Word. The program is called From Prussia With Love.Camerata San Antonio's Weekend of Mozarthttp://tpr.org/post/camerata-san-antonios-weekend-mozart
76895 as http://tpr.orgWed, 12 Oct 2016 15:37:29 +0000Camerata San Antonio's Weekend of MozartJack MorganA San Antonio Chamber music group's 13th season is set to begin. They're called Camerata San Antonio, but their season opening show isn't in San Antonio. "No, it's not. Our first concert is on September 9th, and that is in Boerne," says cellist and founder Ken Freudigman. "September 10th is in Kerrville. And then we skip a week and we are here in San Antonio on September 18th." Each year the popular Chamber group plays recurring concerts in San Antonio and up in the Hill Country. "We're going to be playing a work by Antonín Dvořák--a quartet written right about the time he was starting to become famous. It is so delightful to listen to." Appearing with Camerata's four-piece chamber ensemble will be a very accomplished pianist, just coming back from touring China. "Viktor Valkov will be with us for all three programs. Viktor is a magnificent pianist, and he'll be doing two works with us on the program. The first work is Aulis Sallinen's Introduction and Tango Overture." You heard right-Chamber Group Begins 13th Seasonhttp://tpr.org/post/chamber-group-begins-13th-season
75332 as http://tpr.orgWed, 07 Sep 2016 21:03:31 +0000Chamber Group Begins 13th SeasonJack Morgan Chamber Orchestra Camerata San Antonio is following the pattern set out by the San Antonio Symphony every winter. That pattern was created by the Symphony's Sebastian Lang-Lessing, by choosing one composer every season. Here's Camerata's Ken Freudigman. "We've done Brahms, we've done Tchaikovsky, we've done Strauss. And this year we are zeroing in on the Americas. All the way from South America all the way up to Canada." But what they're doing this season is playing music created by American composers, or composers writing while IN America. He detailed the upcoming program. "We're doing four works on the program. We're doing music of Golijov, and Charles Ives. Also Dvorak. Who thinks of Dvorak as an American composer but actually..." TPR's Jack Morgan interjects, "He was here for a little while wasn't he?" "He was, actually. There's a Czech community in Spillville, Iowa, that he spent time in. And that's where he wrote the American String Quartet," he says. "And, also the music ofCamerata San Antonio Plays Las Américashttp://tpr.org/post/camerata-san-antonio-plays-las-am-ricas
63144 as http://tpr.orgThu, 07 Jan 2016 16:57:02 +0000Camerata San Antonio Plays Las AméricasJack MorganA Grammy-nominated chamber music group is performing on Wednesday. They’re called Camerata San Antonio, and here is the group’s founder, Kenneth Freudigman. “We are participating in the San Antonio Symphony’s Strauss Festival.” The Symphony’s Festivals usually explore the work of single composers. Richard Strauss is the current focus. “This year however, it is not just Strauss, but composers who influenced Strauss and composers who were influenced by Strauss as well.” One of those composers was Erich Korngold, who was spoken of very highly by Strauss, when the former was but a boy. Korngold later went on to win the 1938 Academy Award for his score for the Errol Flynn-Olivia de Havilland starrer, The Adventures Of Robin Hood. “We’re playing the string sextet by Korngold, which is really a magnificent work. He was considered a genius or a child prodigy, of the likes of Mozart.” What other pieces are you going to play? “We’re opening the program with a sextet by Richard Strauss from his Intimate Chamber Music From Camerata San Antoniohttp://tpr.org/post/intimate-chamber-music-camerata-san-antonio
43715 as http://tpr.orgFri, 02 Jan 2015 19:47:00 +0000Intimate Chamber Music From Camerata San AntonioJack MorganCamerata San Antonio begins its fall season this weekend, and I spoke to Camerata Music Director Ken Freudigman recently about that season. We ended last time with November 20th’s 'Clarinet and Strings' program. “The next program is the Camerata Recital; that’s in December," he said. "This is where it features one member of the group and this year it’s Martha Long. She’s our principal flute of the symphony, and we’re just delighted to work with her.” In January Camerata joins in with the San Antonio Symphony’s yearly Festival, which focuses on a specific composer. “The composer happens to be Richard Strauss," said Freudigman. "This year along with Strauss there will also be some other composers who will be featured. There will be music of Mozart and there will be music of Korngold. It’s very romantic, and it will be a fantastic work," he added. "The fifth program is called 'Salon Camerata' and you have to imagine that you are transported to a salon at the beginning of the twentiethLooking Over Camerata San Antonio's Eclectic New Seasonhttp://tpr.org/post/looking-over-camerata-san-antonios-eclectic-new-season
39021 as http://tpr.orgTue, 30 Sep 2014 15:40:59 +0000Looking Over Camerata San Antonio's Eclectic New SeasonJack MorganCamerata San Antonio brings chamber music to South Texans every autumn, and this year it all starts October 3rd in Boerne. “In Boerne we play at the First Methodist Church, and in Kerrville we play at First Presbyterian. Both of those we’ve been in for many, many years. And in San Antonio we play at Christ Episcopal,” says Camerata founder and cellist Ken Freudigman. Those three gigs start Friday evening, then Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Freudigman explains what they will be playing. “The first program is called 'Russian Soul,' and when you think of Russian music, the first composers that come to mind are Shostakovich and Prokofiev. And Shostakovich is of course represented on this program. But the second composer is named Mieczysław Weinberg" he said. "A magnificent composer, but one of these composers, for those who grew up during the Cold War, his music did not make it out of Russia.” That means his prolific output is only now becoming fully known in the music world, and it’s soCamerata Starts Performance Season With "Russian Soul"http://tpr.org/post/camerata-starts-performance-season-russian-soul
38860 as http://tpr.orgFri, 26 Sep 2014 18:22:42 +0000Camerata Starts Performance Season With "Russian Soul"Jack Morgan It’s almost like an old school musician apprenticeship. We’re talking about a program conducted by Camerata San Antonio, the four-piece chamber ensemble. First, a reminder of who they are and what they do. “We perform music from the baroque to today, and we try to keep every program eclectic,” said Camerata’s co-founder and violist Emily Freudigman. Not long ago in the hill country, while conducting a master class, the group realized something. “Not only do we perform well together, we teach well together,” said Freudigman. So they decided to do master classes in all the cities they play. As to what a master class is, she puts it this way. “A private lesson in a very public space, in front of an audience. It’s a very old tradition in classical music studies and it’s kind of a rite of passage to any serious music student,” Freudigman said. As I noted, it must be kind of daunting to have your performance critiqued in front of others. She agreed, but added that "that’s why I call it aCamerata Hosting Master Class For High School Musicians http://tpr.org/post/camerata-hosting-master-class-high-school-musicians
31697 as http://tpr.orgWed, 14 May 2014 20:25:23 +0000Camerata Hosting Master Class For High School Musicians Jack MorganThe city’s Dvořák Festival begins tomorrow and Camerata San Antonio is getting ready for their performance on Sunday, January 19. "We are truly excited to be partnering with the San Antonio Symphony in their yearly festival," said cellist and co-founder Ken Freudigman. Camerata is a four-piece chamber ensemble that grows just a bit during these festivals. "This year Camerata will be partnering with the soloist pianist Michel Dalberto in the magnificent 'Piano Quintet in A Major,'" Freudigman said. But Dalberto isn’t Camerata’s only guest. "Also on the program is native-born Nancy Zhou -- she’s taking the world by storm," Freudigman said. San Antonio Symphony Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing is bringing her back to play with the symphony, and Camerata gets her to perform "Romance for Violin and Piano Op. 11." I asked Freudigman if the concept of a city-wide observance of one composer a year was a neat device for advancing everyone’s classical music knowledge. "I certainly think itCamerata San Antonio's Dvorak Concert Features Exciting Guestshttp://tpr.org/post/camerata-san-antonios-dvorak-concert-features-exciting-guests
24820 as http://tpr.orgThu, 09 Jan 2014 18:11:46 +0000Camerata San Antonio's Dvorak Concert Features Exciting GuestsJack MorganFriday night one of the hottest tickets in town isn’t in town, and the tickets are free. The place is Kerrville and the band to see is Camerata San Antonio, offering a free preview of the Dvorak Festival. Kenneth Freudigman is a founding member and Artistic Director of Camerata, as well as a member of the San Antonio Symphony. “We are partnering with the San Antonio Symphony to bring great music of Dvorak to the area. This gives us an opportunity to play this magnificent work…in Kerrville.” Camerata is a four-member chamber group here in San Antonio, but for the Kerrville performance they’ll be joined by pianist Kristin Roach. “She’s a fantastic artist, fantastic collaborator. She has been part of the fabric of the music for decades.” We asked Freudigman whether, as a chamber musician, Dvorak was a favorite. “Absolutely! The music of Dvorak still speaks to us today. His emotions, and what he writes, are truly timeless. We will be listening to Dvorak in another hundred years." DvorakCamerata San Antonio Taking Dvorak to Kerrvillehttp://tpr.org/post/camerata-san-antonio-taking-dvorak-kerrville
23395 as http://tpr.orgWed, 11 Dec 2013 21:52:26 +0000Camerata San Antonio Taking Dvorak to KerrvilleNathan Cone As Camerata San Antonio opens their tenth season this weekend, they’ll be joined for two pieces by oboe and English horn soloist Jennifer Berg. Early 20th century British composer E.J. Moeran’s “Fantasy Quartet” opens the program: “I almost hear some Vaughan Williams in there,” Berg says, referring to the folk-like melodies of Moeran’s music. “The oboe gets to play some lyrical, cadenza-like sections that remind me of things that I’ve played by Vaughan Williams. Then [the piece] continues and I play more rustic kinds of themes. It’s a fun first piece to collaborate with Camerata on.” Where the Moeran piece is song-like, the music of Eric Ewazen isn’t as structured, providing a different set of challenges for the performers. “Some of it is very ‘out there,’ but it’s very, very approachable, just like the Moeran,” says Berg. “It’s a more modern piece, but you’ll still feel comfortable [as a listener]--not shifting in your seat wondering where the pitch center is.” Camerata San AntonioJennifer Berg Solos With Camerata San Antoniohttp://tpr.org/post/jennifer-berg-solos-camerata-san-antonio
19141 as http://tpr.orgThu, 26 Sep 2013 02:49:40 +0000Jennifer Berg Solos With Camerata San AntonioJack MorganCamerata San Antonio begins its next season by taking the show on the road. The popular local Chamber Music ensemble made up of San Antonio Symphony players has been dazzling south Texas audiences for the last decade. Ken Freudigman, who plays cello in the group, dropped by to talk about their coming programs, starting in Boerne and Kerrville. "We have music from Benjamin Britten, Béla Bartók, we’re doing some music of Dvořák, Hugo Wolf, music of Brahms and Mendelssohn, all throughout the entire year," he said. Always working against the notion that chamber music is stuffy, Freudigman sees it this way. "Music is about love and life, music is shorthand for emotion," he said. "Our concerts are quite relaxed, we’ve worked very hard to break down the walls of chamber music." Camerata San Antonio’s outreach efforts also take it to children who may have never heard chamber music. "We want to shine the light of music and art in places where they might never get to see it live," FreudigmanA New Season For Camerata San Antoniohttp://tpr.org/post/new-season-camerata-san-antonio
18484 as http://tpr.orgFri, 13 Sep 2013 21:41:17 +0000A New Season For Camerata San AntonioJohn ClareKerrville, Boerne and San Antonio host Camerata SA concerts this weekend Personal Expressions will feature Anastasia Storer and Matthew Zerweck, violins; Emily Freudigman, viola; and Ken Freudigman, cello. These Camerata San Antonio musicians play together in chamber music as well as at the San Antonio Symphony. Ken says that their familiarity with one another makes all the difference! "It builds upon itself. The more that you work together, the more you understand the musical personalities of the people you are working with. After a while, it is almost like a marriage." [Editor's note, Ken is married to Emily.] "The Quartet by Smetana, it is really almost autobiographical in nature. The music is undeniably Smetana, but where it becomes very personable is in the finale, and expresses an affliction, tinnitus." Kerrville: Thursday, January 3 @ 7:30pm Kerrville First Presbyterian Church - 800 E Jefferson Boerne: Friday, January 4 @ 7:30pm Boerne First United Methodist - 250 E. James SanThree Chances To Hear Personal Expressions With Camerata San Antoniohttp://tpr.org/post/three-chances-hear-personal-expressions-camerata-san-antonio
4095 as http://tpr.orgTue, 01 Jan 2013 18:27:15 +0000Three Chances To Hear Personal Expressions With Camerata San AntonioJohn ClareViolist is joined by Carolyn True in romantic favorites Each season, Camerata San Antonio features one player in concert for the "Camerata Recital." This year will be the first for co-founder Emily Watkins-Freudigman, who will play music by Benjamin Britten, Darius Milhaud, Robert Schumann, and Sergei Prokofiev. "These were transcribed by a Russian violist Vadim Borissovsky, a member of the Beethoven Quartet - which premiered many of Shostakovich's Quartets, and was the founder of that big Russian School of viola sound! In addition to all of his talents - playing, teaching - he composed. When he heard Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet, he immediately heard the potential for a viola version, which Prokofiev approved!" says Emily. "There's only so much you can communicate as a teacher, a lot has to be learned in observing performances. I encourage my students to go to symphony concerts, chamber music concerts, and recitals whenever they can!" Watkins-Freudigman is joined by TrinityCamerata San Antonio Recital Features Co-Founder Emily Watkins-Freudigmanhttp://tpr.org/post/camerata-san-antonio-recital-features-co-founder-emily-watkins-freudigman
2704 as http://tpr.orgMon, 03 Dec 2012 18:33:55 +0000Camerata San Antonio Recital Features Co-Founder Emily Watkins-Freudigman